Peace brokers proclaimed a breakthrough in efforts to halt the Gaza conflict Jan. 7 as Israel's cabinet considered a Franco-Egyptian initiative and Russia pressed for a diplomatic solution in talks with Hamas. Israel stopped short of saying whether the plan floated by the presidents of Egypt and France after a summit at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh would be accepted. Hamas representatives also said the plan was under consideration. (Middle East Online, Jan. 7)

Israeli tanks and troops surged into towns across the Gaza Strip Dec. 6, battling Hamas fighters through the streets and alleys of Gaza City in the heaviest fighting of the 11-day-old offensive. Israeli air-strikes hit three UN-run schools, killing at least 45 people—bringing the Palestinian death toll in "Operation Cast Lead" to 635 and sparking urgent new ceasefire calls.

The Palestinian death toll reached 530 as Israel's assault on Gaza entered its tenth day Jan. 5, and Israeli ground forces encircled Gaza City. Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared the city "partially besieged." Israeli air-strikes continued, and armed Palestinian groups launched dozens of projectiles across the border. Dozens of artillery shells landed in residential houses in outlying Gaza City neighborhoods and east of Jabalia refugee camp. Palestinian fighters continued to exchange fire with Israeli troops, primarily in northern towns and the outskirts of densely-populated Gaza City. Three Israeli soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded by a tank shell in a "friendly fire incident" in the northern Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement.

Latin American governments and organizations generally condemned the assault on the Palestinian territory of Gaza by Israeli military forces. There were also a number of street protests, which the media reported were mostly small. The strongest condemnations came from leftist governments. Cuba's Communist government issued a statement on Dec. 27, at the beginning of the air campaign, calling the offensive an "act of genocide" and a "criminal military operation, the bloodiest one executed by Israel against the Palestinian people." It "takes place in the midst of an illegal blockade imposed by the Israeli government in the last 18 months against the Gaza Strip, directed at annihilating and subduing the Palestinian population—including children, women and the elderly—by hunger and disease." Cuba expressed its "unyielding solidarity with and support for this long-suffering and heroic people." (Declaración del Gobierno Revolucionario, Dec. 27; Prensa Latina, Dec. 28)

Israeli troops and Hamas fighters battled at dawn in Gaza Jan. 5 amid tank, artillery and air strikes, as the death toll from the offensive passed 510. Israeli forces moved into the outskirts of Gaza City as families fled or remained hidden after a second night of combat. Fierce fighting is reported around the northern towns of Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanun and Jabaliya. The Israeli air force attacked 130 targets in Gaza overnight, a spokesman said. Shelling from naval boats off the coast could also be heard. Tanks have cut off Gaza City and the north from the rest of the Strip. Air-strikes were also reported in the southern border town of Rafah.

Israelis protest Gaza siege" title="Israelis protest Gaza siege" class="image image-thumbnail" width="100" height="75" />Israelis protest Gaza siegeThousands of Israeli troops, backed by tanks and helicopters, entered the Gaza Strip shortly nightfall Jan. 3, following up a night of heavy bombing with the anticipated ground invasion. Israeli forces mostly entered the Strip from the north, and reached the towns of Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun in the early hours of Jan. 4. Heavy fighting is also reported at the Rafah border crossing and the Jabaliya refugee camp, and 30 Israeli soldiers are confirmed wounded so far. Israel has barred journalists from the Strip, but Palestinian medical sources say 464 Gaza residents have now been killed since the bombing began a week ago. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for a halt to the invasion. But an emergency meeting of the Security Council ended without agreeing on a statement on the crisis—largely due to US intransigence. (AlJazeera, BBC World Service, Jan. 4)

From the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Dec. 28:

Dear President-Elect Obama,

Congratulations on your historic election as the next President of the United States.

Last year, you pledged to "take an active role, and make a personal commitment to do all I can to advance the cause of [Israeli-Palestinian] peace from the start of my Administration." We are eager to work with you to fulfill this goal.

The number of Palestinians killed in the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip reached 434, with at least 2,280 wounded as the air campaign entered its seventh day Jan. 3. Five children were killed in al-Qarara town, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Strip. Two more children were killed at Jabalia in the north, when missiles struck the home of Imad Aqel, a leader of the al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of Hamas. Civilian casualties were also reported at al-Boreij refugee camp. Schools and civilian vehicles were also hit. (International Middle East Media Center, Jan. 3)